November 4, 2013

November 4

Hello everyone!

 

First off I would like to wish Steven a happy birthday!! I can't believe you are 16 years old today! You are growing up to be such a stud! I hope that today is the best and that you have a wonderful birthday. Remember I love you and will be thinking about you on this special day.

 

It is a cold day here in Cali. It looks like it might rain today, which I am so happy about. I love when it rains here. The weather is cooling down, but the days are still pretty warm.

 

To be completely honest here, this week has been extremely long. I feel like the first week of a new transfer is always long especially when you don't know the area or don't know the people. We have been riding the bus a lot in this area. We don't ever really use our bikes. We do a lot of walking though that's for sure. I am getting use to the bus and have been having fun contacting people on the bus. I was talking to this one lady and she said that she has been wanting more religion in her life and said that she reads the bible all the time and that it means so much to her. She gave us her number and we gave her our number as well. She was really sweet and I think that it made her day for someone to talk to her. Just yesterday we met a Jewish man on the bus and he saw that we were missionaries and said that he was a missionary for his church as well. We talked to him a little bit about his church and what he does as a missionary. He says that he has traveled the world and that he plays music for the people that come into the church to worship and to pray to God. It was cool to hear some of the things that he does as a missionary. Riding the bus is giving us more opportunities to share what we believe. There are so many curious people out there and the Lord is surely preparing people to receive this great message. We haven't found anyone in our own area from riding the bus, but it is all the same work and we are still sharing what the Lord would want these people to hear.

 

I want to share with you all something that I learned in my studies this week. I was reading in Alma chapter 26. This is where the faithful are strengthened by the Lord and are given knowledge by faith. The verses that stuck out to me were v 2. We are asked what great blessings has the Lord bestowed upon us and if we can tell. I really liked this because sometimes in life we have get caught up with the world that we forget the blessings that the Lord has given us. It got me thinking of the blessing that I  have received from being a member. I have so many things to be grateful for and I know that every one of them has come from the Lord. V 12. "I am nothing as to my strength I am weak therefore I will not boast of myself,  but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things." I love love this verse. I know that I am nothing, but because of what my Savior has done from me, I can overcome my weakness and that I can become strong. I know that if I put the Lord first and trust in him that I will be able to do all things. This week I have been able to experience this and I know that I have been made strong. I know that when I fall short that the I have someone there that will make up the difference for him. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have the atonement in my life. I feel so happy and so at peace when I place my burdens and trials on the Savior. I know that this gospel is true and I know that this is what we need to have in our lives to be able to be happy and to be with our Heavenly Father again! I hope that each one of you can feel your Saviors love as well and that you will be able to place your burdens on him and that you will be able to have that peace in your hearts.

 

I love you all so much and miss you a lot. I cannot wait to see you all really soon. I hope you have a wonderful week.

 

Love, Sister Ackley